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I’m currently tweeting what I saw in Onagawa City, Miyagi Prefecture. Please check my Twitter timeline. I understand that everyone is anxious but I only know what I see. I do not have information about areas that I haven’t been in or the status of individuals. I drove to the Number One Day Care Center and walked through the ruins to the General Gym to pick up my family. http://twitpic.com/photos/kombu_s

After reaching safety in Sendai, she posted photos that she took along the way on March 12.

Please note that I am not replying to tweets. I only know what I saw. I am an ordinary person who went to pick up her family. I don’t have information, even if you give me an address or a name. The person tweeting this is in Sendai. Please look at my timeline. #onagawa #save_miyagi_onagawa

[Please RT] This is information about Onagawa City in Miyagi Prefecture. Locals visited the affected area today. Evacuated folks have all gathered in the General Gym. Communication via cell phones is almost entirely impossible, since they are out of range throughout town. Don’t become worried because you can't speak with them directly. Believe that your family is safe.

I intend to keep posting information about Onagawa, my home town. I ask that you retweet it as much as possible. Please stop following me if you don’t want to see this kind of information. If you’re a fellow local with a question, please send me a Direct Mail. I will answer from within what I’ve seen so far.

I arrived at the General Gym around noon. The roof of the junior high school had cracked, so everyone who had evacuated there moved to the General Gym. There wasn’t enough food or blankets at that point. Most people were laying down, extremely exhausted.

At around noon, I heard that there was cups of miso soup and packaged jelly going around, to share with 2-3 people. There were no blankets, and people were wrapped up in what looked like curtains. I thought there wasn’t enough supplies being provided. #save_miyagi_onagawa #onagawa

I was speechless when I first saw the sight from Kumano Shrine. My eyes filled with tears and dry laughter erupted from within me. It was that terrible. However, the people that managed to evacuate were worried about their relatives and friends outside of town.

At that point, our cell phones were out of range, and 1seg was not working in our area either. The information from the radio was not detailed enough, and my heart ached that we could not let anyone know that we were safe in Onagawa. I know the lack of personal contact is worrying but please believe in your family.

I thought that we will be saved as long as there are supplies necessary for survival; blankets, heating equipment, food, water, and toilet paper (the restroom situation was terrible). Also, we’d like more information! Television sets and cell phones aren’t usable. I wish there was a way to share video and photos of what’s happening outside of Onagawa.

(cont) This is the countryside and there are many elderly people. Video is important because radio and newspapers are not sufficient for those with bad eyesight or hearing. The emergency bulletin boards and emergency dialing systems are pretty complex to the elderly. Of course, we didn’t have connection to those at that time anyway….

I heard some horrible stories from my grandmother and her friends. However, it’s gossip talk that spread in a way that’s unique to the countryside, so I’ll refrain from tweeting about it since it might be inaccurate. I think a big part of it is imagination rooted in worry. However, it’s a fact that this kind of talk is happening.

From Onagawa Hospital, I photographed a commercial street while climbing slope from Onagawa School to Marinpal road. As I actually walked over many raw fish were on the ground. http://twitpic.com/48s41e

Now that I mention it, while on my way to the gymnasium, I saw a small fire. In Ishinomaki, I heard from a friend on the evening of the 11th who headed to Onagawa despite the danger, that he saw red light and flames. Although he wanted to do something, it was not a situation for action, so he had to just pass by and move on.

It’s a bit difficult to see but here’s an image of a Self Defence Force helicopter as it reached Onagawa Hospital. The hospital staff was guiding it but I didn’t see what kind of people were inside the hospital.

While we headed towards Onagawa, we passed many evacuees moving from initial evacuation spot to [larger ones such as] General Gym or Daiichi Kindergarten. There are a lot of elderly people but people were helping each other. The men were helping women, children, and the elderly escape. Really good town. #onagawa

There are so many things running through my head that I’m not sure whether I should say them or not. I’m not tweeting to spread anxiety, so it makes me wonder what the best action is. I hesitated with whether I should mention the junior high students [referring to a previous tweet] but I tweeted about it because I hope they are safe. I share your worries and anxiety. Really sorry. #onagawa

Thank you for the translation! Very much appreciated (and shared).
One note — the original author is not @konbu_s, but @kombu_s — it’s right everywhere in the post except for the very first mention. (I just accidentally mentioned @konbu_s, and she alerted me). Can you fix it so nobody else does that to @konbu_s by accident?

Thank you again for your hard work!

https://emmabrewin.wordpress.com/ Emma Brewin

Hi,

I’ve corrected this – thanks for notifying us.

Emma
(Deputy Editor)

Beth Swarbrigg

I lived in Onagawa 10 years ago as a JET ALT at the chugakko. I am in tears at the loss of the town I loved. All of my thoughts and prayers are with you. I hope my students, colleagues and the community of Onagawa are well.

Kelly Warnock

This is definitely heart-breaking. I also lived in Onagawa from 2003-2004. It’s hard to see the pictures and think about how much was lost. I pray that everyone is safe and the town can recover quickly.

Valéria Silva Custódio Yogi

I am looking for Brazilians, who are in Onagawa, namely: Ilton Toshiaki Hanashiro Yogi, Yogi Roseli Hiroko Nelson with her ​​husband and daughter Micheli. We have not heard from them since Friday

I lived in Onagawa 1996 to 1999 as a JET ALT for the BOE–my lovely Onagawa it is so hard to see the pictures. I pray that everyone is safe–I think of all my students and the lovely people of Onagawa–may god be with you all. If anyone is looking for the Yoshida family–who lived there at the same time as me and worked for the Tohoku Company–they have sent me a message that they are safe in Sendai. I hope to hear from more people and share information.

Bless you all!

Madelaine Murray (nee Pelletier)

I also lived in Onagawa as a JET from 1999 to 2001. Like many of you, I absolutely loved the town and its people. I hope and pray for the safety of this wonderful community. I am also very concerned about some friends from Ishinomaki that I have kept in touch with since leaving Japan. They were students in the Bijou Takahashi English class held in Ishinomaki. I know a number of Onagawa JETs taught this adult class. I am hoping to hear from Masa and Setsuko Kawada. If anyone hears anything please pass it on. Thanks so much. And thanks to Tomomi Sasaki for sharing what she knows.

Kelly Warnock

Hi Madelaine – and other Onagawa ALTs,

A former Ishinomaki JET (Rod) has a lot of good info about Kiwi Club members & others living around the area. Email me if you’d like his info (not sure if I should give it out).kellywarnock@hotmail.com